Season 2 - Debbie talks with Robin Brierley - West Midlands Anti Slavery Network Executive Director

We are delighted to speak to Rosie Venner, the Money Makes Change Programme Manager and Bryn Lauder the Communications and Campaigns Manager from ECCR about their work and how that impacts social justice and a call to action for the church and communities. ECCR’s (The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility) vision is to see money used in a way that creates a fairer and more sustainable world. We help faith communities and people to make financial choices which reflect these values and passions. Working with Faith Communities In response to increasing concerns about the use of Church funds in companies which promoted fossil fuels, the Church Investors Group  was founded to look at ways in which institutional church funds could be utilised as force for good. ECCR has therefore increasingly concentrated on working with individual churches and church-goers, to help them think about how the money they use in their daily lives can become a tool of their faith, resulting in our programme, Money Makes Change. The History ECCR was formed in 1989. It focused on issues such as indigenous rights in Nigeria and the Philippines, migrant work and sex trafficking, and partnered with organisations such as CAFOD and Christian Aid to release reports into corporate responsibility. We’ve worked with faith groups and religious orders to look at how individual churches and church-goers can apply pressure to corporations and governments. For many years we provided research, resources for campaigning and advocacy, responses to government consultations, reports to help shareholders engage with companies, and templates for letter-writing campaigns. https://www.eccr.org.uk/

We are delighted to speak to Christian Guy, Chief Executive of international anti-slavery NGO, Justice & Care Former Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street & Chief Executive at the Centre for Social Justice. Non-Executive Director & Trustee. Christian shares about tackling Modern Slavery here in the UK.  Recently a range of high-level recommendations made by Justice and Care’s CEO, Christian Guy, have been accepted by the UK Government in its response to the commissioned review of the Modern Slavery Act. The Modern Slavery Act was introduced in 2015, making provisions for the role of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner, clarifying modern slavery offences and including a requirement for businesses to disclose action they are taking to eliminate slavery from their supply chains. Before joining Justice and Care, Christian was heavily involved in making the Act become a reality. In 2018 the Government commissioned Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Rt Hon Maria Miller MP and Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss to hold an Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act, to strengthen and enhance the legislation as the crime of modern slavery and human trafficking is uncovered and better understood. Christian was appointed the International Expert Adviser for the Review – his findings and recommendations along with others were published in May 2019. Fighting slavery and human trafficking have rightly been political priorities in recent years, but it is down to the new Prime Minister and all of us to ensure they remain so. We now have the opportunity to build on these reforms and launch an all-out assault on this horrific crime. We must continue to work to make sure that the UK is both a hostile place for those who wish to perpetrate these appalling crimes and a place of recovery and rehabilitation for victims. This is just the beginning” – Christian Guy, CEO, Justice and Care https://justiceandcare.org/

We are delighted to speak to Lara Bundock, CEO and Founder of the Snowdrop Project back in July 2020, just after the first UK national lockdown. In this episode, Lara chats to Debbie Huxton, TCT’s Modern Slavery Campaigner with Lichfield Diocese Mothers’ Union. They reflect together on how Lara founded the Snowdrop Project with her friend and now Heap of Operations – Rachel Medina. They discuss how it has grown, and the pressures this causes, but also the joys. Lara also talks about her national advocacy role and what it is like to lead one of the UK’s most innovative supporters of Modern Slavery Survivors. They discuss the importance of values and how to challenge things in love and kindness and share practical tips to start impacting against Modern Slavery. Enjoy! Helpful links mentioned: https://snowdropproject.co.uk/ www.antislavery.org/what-we-do/uk/anti-trafficking-monitoring-group/ www.humantraffickingfoundation.org/ www.tctogether.org.uk  A brief bio: Lara left her home town, Skipton, to come to Sheffield for a BA in Psychology and Sociology and then went on to complete an MA in Social Work. She worked for Doncaster Social Services and CAMHS before working for an NRM safe house in Sheffield. As a result of seeing the need for further support, Lara started the Snowdrop Project. She is a guest lecturer at Sheffield Hallam and Sheffield University and co-authored the report, ‘Life Beyond the Safe House’ (2015) for the Human Trafficking Foundation. Her most adventurous experiences through work were in Turkmenistan, presenting to the government, conducting social research in Libya and giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee. It has been her delight over the last few years to grow Snowdrop to where it is today and work with some of the most dedicated, passionate and caring people she has ever met. In her free time, she can be found treading the boards in local theatres, playing netball or chilling out with good friends and her cat Stanley. Follow Lara on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LaraSnowdrop and the project at https://twitter.com/SnowdropProject

We’ve got a real treat for you as we mark Anti-Slavery Day 2020! Debbie is joined by James Henderson from TCT in conversation with Wendy Simms and Piotr Pula, who are on the frontline of fighting Modern Slavery in Sandwell, with Sandwell Council and Slavery Free Sandwell.  Wendy Sims has a back ground in Social work. She worked with Women’s aid for 15 years heading up work for child victims of violence, abuse and exploitation and also leading on service delivery and development. During her time with Women’s Aid she was a regional head of service she established several refuges and community services for victims of domestic and sexual violence/abuse and modern slavery. Wendy Currently leads on developing Sandwell’s strategic approach modern slavery, human trafficking and prevention of violence and exploitation. Wendy Chairs the Sandwell Strategic anti-slavery partnership and is leading on working towards a slavery free Sandwell. Wendy is passionate about training people to identify and respond to violence, abuse and exploitation and had dedicated her life to working with victims of domestic anse sexual violence and abuse and modern slavery. Visit www.smbc.gov.uk/modernslavery  Piotr has over five years’ experience of working on the front line in the fight against modern slavery. In his current role as Community Safety Officer with Sandwell Council to tackle Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking he now gets to further shape the delivery of services to victims of modern slavery and take a lead in the role of the first responder. Piotr is passionate about educating others in the signs of modern slavery and his own experience demonstrates the values of training. Within a few days of Piotr attending Modern Slavery awareness he was able to identify 2 victims of modern slavery, which led to the largest slavery network in which over 400 victims of slavery were forced into about by a Organised crime Group. Piotr’s contribution to fight against Modern Day Slavery has been remarkable, he has rescued over 300 victims in the last five years has been recognised and awarded serval times for his work. Piotr’s work has been covered in print and broadcast outlets around the world, including the CNN Europe, Sky News, TVN, BBC, ITV, Birmingham Mail, Gazeta Wyborcza, Goniec: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/16/europe/uk-slavery-network-charity-worker-intl/index.html https://news.sky.com/story/slavery-ring-that-forced-400-people-to-work-for-pittance-is-broken-11757286  https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/well-kidnap-destroy-you-death-16705456  James Henderson joins Wendy and Piotr. James has been passionate about ending Modern Slavery for many years. As well as being Senior Development Worker at Transforming Communities Together (www.tctogether.org.uk). He is also very active in WASP - Wolverhampton and Walsall Anti-Slavery Partnership which seeks to bring together a wide range of partners to raise awareness, support victims and increase intelligence. James currently serves as Acting Chair to WASP.  We want to continue to encourage one another that together, what ever circumstance we find ourselves in, we can change the narrative from one of indifference to making a difference! Let us be courageous together and talk about modern slavery.  🎵 Track Info: Happy Life by Fredji License: Royalty-free music SC: https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic

Join Debbie in conversation with Amber Cagney, the Development Manager at West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network. Amber has set up and runs a Big Lottery funded ‘place of safety’ for identified male survivors of modern slavery for the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network, is developing a resource centre and identifying future opportunities for the network. Amber sits on the Modern Slavery Strategy Implementation Group for Victim Care and Support and the Home Office’s multi-agency assurance panel of independent professionals who have experience and expertise in working with survivors of modern slavery to add an additional layer of scrutiny to all negative ‘conclusive grounds’ decisions across the UK. Previous work history includes a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) subcontractor of the Salvation Army in various roles from caseworker to accommodation manager, both directly supporting survivors of modern slavery to access their rights and entitlements and developing and managing safe houses and their staff teams. Amber has a passion for improving survivor support, developing best practise guidance and training for professionals to improve the challenges that survivors and frontline organisations face and ensuring survivors of modern slavery are consulted and involved in development to ensure services are designed with their expertise and experience at their core. Debbie and Amber mention taking your Slavery Footprint. You can do this at http://slaveryfootprint.org/my-footprint

Bryn Frere-Smith – Founder of Blue Bear Coffee Co. In this episode, Debbie Huxton - Modern Slavery Campaigner for Transforming Communities Together, with Lichfield Diocese Mothers' Union and the Clewer Initiative talks to Bryn about his anti-slavery work and his passion for justice and eradicating modern slavery and exploitation. Bryn is an ex Police Officer who left the force in 2014 to pursue a career in private security. After four years of working as a bodyguard for a number of high-profile clients, he took a sabbatical to volunteer for a human rights agency investigating the trafficking of children in the Dominican Republic. His experience investigating human trafficking led him to start an ethical business designed to support coffee growing communities, whilst using its profits to support organisations fighting human trafficking and caring for survivors.  Bryn is also the host of The Justice & Coffee Podcast and the Head of Security for the anti-trafficking NGO Justice and Care. Web: www.bluebearcoffee.com Pod: www.bluebearcoffee.com/pages/the-justice-coffee-podcastwww.bluebearcoffee.com - Coffee lovers with a heart for justice. Debbie also encourages you to take your Slavery Footprint at http://slaveryfootprint.org/my-footprint

We're delighted to welcome Robin as our first 'Focus on Modern Slavery' podcast guest! He is a good friend to Transforming Communities Together, working with us as a Consultant and as West Midlands Anti Slavery Network Executive Director. In the first part of a wide ranging conversation with Debbie Huxton, our Modern Slavery Campaigner (with Lichfield Diocese Mothers' Union and the Clewer Initiative), we start to explore what has driven Robin in his work in Modern Slavery? What are his values and what is the role of mentoring and authenticity. We really hope you enjoy these podcasts. If you have any feedback, or ideas for future podcasts, please get in touch via our producer. We want to use this podcast to raise awareness and empower our listeners by informing, sharing and educating through the interviews, discussions and conversations we will share with you.  We want to continue to encourage one another that together, what ever circumstance we find ourselves in, we can change the narrative from one of indifference to making a difference! Let us be courageous together and talk about modern slavery.  🎵 Track Info: Happy Life by Fredji License: Royalty-free music SC: https://soundcloud.com/fredjimusic Further info on Robin: He is also an Independent consultant on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Robin joined Thames Valley Police in 1990, and went on to work for the National Crime Squad, the Anti Corruption Command within the Metropolitan Police, and the Serious Organised Crime Agency. He worked within the Enforcement Directorate as an SIO, and later within the Intelligence Directorate working on organised immigration crime. Robin was later seconded to the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) before leaving SOCA to set up his own company in 2011. Robin is currently the Chair of the West Midlands Regional Anti Slavery Network and is also the Director and Coordinator. Together with Tatiana Jardan of the Human Trafficking Foundation he founded and Co Chairs and Coordinates the National Network Coordinators Forum set up to bring together the coordinators of Modern Slavery networks throughout the UK. Robin is very much victim focused and endorses the view that partnerships are essential to identify and rescue victims and should also contribute to an increase in investigations, prosecutions and convictions in line with National Strategy. Twitter: @robinbrierley

We've launched a new podcast - Focus on Modern Slavery! The more people can recognise and report modern slavery, the more effectively we can safeguard victims and bring the traffickers to justice. Slavery may be closer to you than you think. There could be victims of exploitation working in domestic servitude or forced labour on your street. We want to use this podcast to raise awareness and empower our listeners by informing, sharing and educating through the interviews, discussions and conversations we will share with you. We want to continue to encourage one another that together, what ever circumstance we find ourselves in, we can change the narrative from one of indifference to making a difference! Let us be courageous together and talk about modern slavery. 🎵 Track Info: Happy Life by Fredji License: Royalty-free music SC: @fredjimusic www.tctogether.org.uk

The more people who can recognise and report modern slavery, the more effectively we can safeguard victims and bring the traffickers to justice. Slavery may be closer to you than you think. There could be victims of exploitation working in domestic servitude or forced labour on your street. We want to use this podcast to raise awareness and empower our listeners by informing, sharing and educating through the interviews, discussions and conversations we will share with you. We want to continue to encourage one another that together, what ever circumstance we find ourselves in, we can change the narrative from one of indifference to making a difference! Let us be courageous together and talk about modern slavery. 🎵 Track Info: Happy Life by Fredji License: Royalty-free music SC: @fredjimusic www.tctogether.org.uk